Anonymous #NewYearNotes Hidden In London For Strangers To Find

Well-wishes, quotes and challenges left all around London for people to stumble across. Because we all need a bit of positivity right now. *Sigh*

2016 was a bit of a weird one, wasn't it? Urgh.

Rather than take on any New Years resolutions that I'd never see through (as per), I wanted to do something a bit different to kick off 2017.

I put a call out for people to send New Year messages for me to handwrite on postcards. I ended up with 100 of them and, with a little help from some friends, have been scattering the notes around the city for strangers to stumble across.

Where have they been left? On the tube, in cafés, tied to benches, in bookshops, bus stops, pinned to notice boards…anywhere I could find. As long as it could be done on the sly.

Every single message is different and all are profound in their own little way...

Some gave dating advice...

Dodged a bullet there.

One used a Popstars contestant as a role model...

Oh Darius.

A few addressed matters of the heart...

Could have done with this previously.

A lot shared the importance of kindness...

'International toilet of a year' - new favourite phrase.

Some were straight up...

Amen to that.

"Switch off more", said this one...

Totally agree. But maybe go offline, only when you've finished reading this. Ta.

A load of them were folks' favourite quotes...

Wise words.

Many encouraged the finders to embrace who they are...

New Year, new you? Nah. You're alright as you are.

Others pushed people to try new things...

Get out of that comfort zone.

La La Land is everywhere at the moment, including this note...

*Rewrites dreams immediately*

*In messy way*

One message has even been written in the search for love...

Forget tinder - find a date the old school way.

(SOMEONE, PLEASE FIND THIS. Would be so good if the notes play cupid.)

And have any been found?

YUP!

18 found so far and counting....

Here are a few:

Tied to a tree on Hampstead Heath

@Sarah_alford_s

This note was originally left on the Southbank and made it to the Tate Modern

@alicedorothy

A bench in Regent's Park was the home for this one

These words of advice were found in King's Cross station

@tildalicious_

These guys received more than just the note when they got this postcard...

@FlaskHampstead

This postcard actually came with a bit of cash to buy someone a New Year drink. The staff at The Flask Pub in Hampstead got involved with the random act of kindness and chose this couple to surprise with a free drink - one bought by the person behind the message and the other paid for by the pub. Nice one.

Handwritten notes seem to be fading away in our soon-to-be Black Mirror world. This initiative is using them to celebrate the simple connection between one human to another. We just don’t know what other people are going through.

Heads up - there are plenty of #NewYearNotes still out there to be found. So, if you're in London, keep your eyes peeled...